City Council approves new construction management standards that will help neighborhoods

April 11, 2014 (MINNEAPOLIS) The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Betsy Hodges today approved new construction management standards for residential projects that will help reduce environmental and livability issues that neighbors face when nearby properties are under construction. Builders of one- and two-unit residential construction projects will now be asked to sign and follow a 25-point agreement to ensure that construction sites are well managed and that negative impacts on neighbors are reduced as much as possible. The conditions relate to things like hours of work, noise reduction, neighbor notification, dumpsters and street use, protecting adjoining properties, and a number of other things that will improve conditions for neighbors during projects.

The City Council’s approval of the new construction management process also ends the moratorium on demolitions of properties in five Southwest neighborhoods that was put in place in March. Since the moratorium went into effect, City officials, led by 13th Ward City Council Member Linea Palmisano, and staff have worked with residents, developers, and trade groups to develop the new Construction Management Agreement process. As these new conditions go into effect, the City’s Community Planning and Economic Development Department will continue work on a zoning study that will inform further development across the City, including the five neighborhoods of Southwest Minneapolis, which have seen a high rate of teardowns and construction projects.

“I want to thank Council Member Palmisano for her leadership on this issue – over the past weeks, she has helped bring stakeholders to the table to address the very real livability issues facing residents and facilitate a discussion on how to support investment in Minneapolis neighborhoods,” said Mayor Betsy Hodges. “This agreement is a real step forward in those conversations and an example of how the 13th Ward can be a leader in fostering more investment in our City.”

“These changes will continue to provide opportunities for folks to move into the city to increase our tax base,” said Council Member Palmisano. “They will also protect long-time homeowners, who have invested in and worked to improve our city over the years, to make it attractive for newcomers. Housing investment is a healthy thing for our city, and yet it needs to be addressed so that we can foster growth through all the city’s neighborhoods. Infill development is a topic where Southwest Minneapolis can lead policy conversations—I expect these immediate changes, and this accelerated study timeline, to be especially helpful in areas where residents today endure concentrated construction, and I am committed to that effort in every way.”

“I’m pleased that this effort is paying off so quickly,” said City Council President Barb Johnson. “That’s what happens when you can get the right players to the table, and I appreciate that this plan really listened to neighbors’ concerns.”

The Construction Management Agreement, which builders are asked to sign off on prior to starting work, includes 25 conditions that builders agree to when wrecking, building new, or doing major remodeling of one- and two-unit dwellings. Some of the conditions are based on existing City ordinance, and others put new rules in place that contractors must agree to follow.

Some of those conditions include:

Hours of work and noise reduction: Operation of construction equipment is allowed only between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, unless an after-hours permit is obtained from the City. Contractors will also plan for and effectively implement reasonable measures to mitigate equipment noise that affects the neighborhood.

Dumpsters and street use: When possible, dumpsters will be located completely on the project site. If street use is required, permits will be issued in 30-day increments, up to a total of 120 days. Dumpsters must be covered during all non-work hours.

Protecting neighboring properties: Contractors must keep the construction site, streets, sidewalks, alleys, and adjacent properties clean, and must protect adjacent public and private property from damage during demolition and construction.

Environmental mitigation: Contractors will be required to use proper erosion and sediment control measures, as well as properly manage dirt and dust issues that might impact the public rights-of-way and neighboring properties.

Contact for neighbors: Before work is done at a site, the contractor will install a sign that includes phone numbers for the developer and contractor, so neighbors have a direct channel to reach out to builders if problems arise.